Macquarie Authenticator vs Ubank
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Macquarie Authenticator
Enhance your account security with this app, offering push notifications for transaction approval or denial and generating one-time passcodes for authentication. It provides a faster, more secure alternative to SMS, especially when traveling internationally.
- Push notifications for transaction approval/denial
- Generate one-time rolling codes
- Offline authentication with rolling codes
- Manage pending tasks
- PIN, fingerprint, and facial recognition unlock
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Protect your Macquarie account with Macquarie Authenticator. Our two-factor authentication app is designed to maximise your security, while also providing a beautiful banking experience. Separate security, seamless experience Macquarie Authenticator works seamlessly with the Macquarie Mobile Banking app. Approve or deny requests in an instant, directly through your notifications, for stronger security that feels like a single, seamless flow. More secure than SMS Unlike with SMS, you can see exactly what you’re approving. We send detailed alerts directly to your secure app, not your phone number. You’re in control Verify important transaction details upfront, such as the amount, recipient and location, so you can approve or deny transactions with confidence.
Ubank
Manage your finances with a digital bank offering tools for spending, saving, and earning. Features include no monthly fees, bonus interest on savings, spending insights, and bill planning. Easily link external accounts and set savings goals.
- No monthly fees
- Bonus interest on savings
- Spending insights and pay cycle sync
- Bill planner and separate bills account
- Shared accounts for partners
- Savings targets and autosave
- Link external bank accounts
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Open a Ubank account in minutes for Money Done Better. Ubank is a digital bank that makes money feel simple, easy to understand and more personal. From daily banking to managing your home loan, Ubank has smart features and tools to help you succeed. What you can do with Ubank: Spend • Digital bank accounts with no account or card fees¹ • Spend instantly by adding Ubank to your digital wallet • Create joint accounts in minutes to share money with your partner-in-finance • PayID and Osko for instant money transfers (if the other bank participates) Save • Open up to 10 no fee savings accounts with high bonus interest that’s simple to earn • Earn bonus interest on savings up to $1M per customer when bonus criteria are met² • Set up Savings Targets on each of your Save accounts to track your goals Travel • Use your Ubank card overseas instead of a travel card for no fees from Ubank¹ • Withdraw from any ATM with no fees charged by Ubank¹ • No currency conversion fees when you pay in a foreign currency • A competitive Visa exchange rate on all your international transactions Budget • Set Budgets to track your spending on 50 categories and merchants in real time • Track your Pay Cycle and sync the Ubank app to when your money comes in • Use a separate Bills account to plan and pay for expenses so you know what’s safe to spend • Schedule bills and get reminders from the Bill Planner Buy a home • Ubank offers home loans for owner-occupiers and investors on new and refinanced loans • Skip the upfront cost with no LMI on any Ubank home loans • Buy with as little as 10% deposit • Easy paperless application online • Chat to our local lending specialists 7 days a week And more • Ubank is part of NAB. You can trust that your money is safe with deposits guaranteed up to $250K³ • Ubank has encrypted passkey login to help keep your accounts secure • Link external bank accounts with Ubank using Connected Accounts • An Australian based call centre available 7 days for any of your queries Download the Ubank app and follow the prompts to get started in minutes. You’ll need valid ID and a unique mobile number. Signing up with a bonus code? See the terms and conditions below for more details. Important information Ubank is open to Australian or New Zealand citizens, or Australian permanent residents. You must be aged 16 or older with an Australian residential address and mobile number to hold an account. If you’re over 18 you will need at least one form of ID (Australian driver licence, Australian passport, or international passport) to sign up. If you’re under 18, you’ll need at least two forms of identification: an Australian driver licence, Australian passport, international passport, Medicare card or birth certificate. Products issued by Ubank, part of National Australia Bank Limited ABN 12 004 044 937 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 230686. Registered Office: Level 28,395 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia. Credit criteria apply. Info is general. Consider if it’s right for you. TMDs and product terms at ubank.com.au. ¹Ubank won’t charge you any fees overseas, but some third party merchants and ATM operators may still charge a fee. ²Rates are variable and subject to change. Interest is payable on total savings up to $1,000,000 per customer where bonus criteria are met. To earn bonus interest, you must have a Spend account, and grow the combined balance of your Save accounts by at least $1. Interest doesn't count towards the $1, and special rules apply to offset accounts. For more info about bonus interest, see ubank.com.au/banking/savings-account ³The Australian Government guarantees deposits up to $250,000 per customer, per Authorised Deposit-taking Institution. As Ubank is part of NAB, the government guarantee applies to the combined value of your Ubank and NAB accounts. Signing up with a bonus code? Read our Welcome Bonus Offer terms at ubank.com.au/campaigns/welcome-offer.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Ubank at 4.6 against Macquarie Authenticator's 3.0. Ubank also leads on review sentiment (43% vs 15%) and ratings volume (162 vs 2). Macquarie Authenticator's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Ubank holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ubank has 162 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Macquarie Authenticator's written reviews are positive against 43% of Ubank's.
Macquarie Authenticator ships an update every 4 weeks, Ubank fortnightly. Both last shipped on September 26, 2026.
| Parameter | Macquarie Authenticator | Ubank |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.0 (2 ratings) | 4.6 (162 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 14.8% of reviews | 43.1% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 2 | 162 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 185 MB | 134 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Macquarie Bank Limited | 86 400 Technology Pty Ltd |
Customer experience
Macquarie Authenticator
Ubank
Bugs and requests
Macquarie Authenticator
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Ubank
Reported bugs
5 issues- Passkey login frequently not working
- Account balance not updating correctly
- Inability to delete old passkeys
- Swipe back gesture not functioning
- App freezing on splash screen
Requested features
5 requests- Custom expense categorization
- Apple Watch app or home screen widgets
- Improved transaction history and balance tracking
- Seamless integration with other bank accounts
- More transparency around interest rate changes
In-app purchases
Macquarie Authenticator
No in-app purchases
Ubank
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Macquarie Authenticator free?
Is Ubank free?
Which has better reviews, Macquarie Authenticator or Ubank?
Do Macquarie Authenticator or Ubank have ads?
Which is updated more often, Macquarie Authenticator or Ubank?
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